Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 29,775, Caleb Edson, Mass N H.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass N.H.
Edson, Caleb
S. 29 775
CONTENTS

Massachusetts 254 New York
Caleb Easen
of Bethany in the State of N. York who was a Life in the Company commanded by Captain Lewis of the 1st commanded by Col. in the N. Hamp one for 2 Years - - - - -
Inscribed on the Roll of N. York - at the rate of 88 Dollars Cents per annum to commence on the 1st day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 11th day of March 1838 - - - and on the 11th day of March Patent
Arrears to the 1st of Mar '33 $ 176 Semi-annual allowance ending 44 $ 220.
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Clerk Book Vol. Page 15
Dec: 21. 1833 - transfer to Mass. from 4 March 1833 - in certif sent to Geo. Bolton Springfield - Massachus - on the 23 d same month. -
May 23 d '34 - sent  certif see letter to John H Simpson Esq - Pen: agt Boston Mass: also see let. of same date to L. Forcross - Boston Mass:

State of New York Broome County p. 3
On this 23rd day of September 1832 personally appeared Mr. Isaac Wilson Davis First Judge of the court of common pleas in and for the said county of Broome Caleb Edson a resident of the town of Northampton in the said county of Broome and State of New York and being duly sworn, who being duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath, make the following declaration as true to the best of the knowledge, information and belief.
That he entered the service of the United States in the following named Officers and served as herein stated.
That he was born in the town of Mendon, in the county of Hampshire and State of Massachusetts on the 27th day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and six.
That when a youth he was bound to the trade of a brick layer in the town of Brookfield in the county of Worcester, in the said State of Massachusetts.
That in the year 1812, in the month of April he went to the town of Stockbridge in the State of New Hampshire for the purpose of laboring upon dams; that while there he heard of the battle of Lexington, and being a young Captain, formed a company of the said town of Stockbridge went for him, and he went to the said Captain and enlisted into his company as a rifle man and after the said battle of Lexington; that he joined the company of the said Capt. Rice man in the town of Nashua, New Hampshire, in the State of Massachusetts, and joined the Regiment commanded by Col. Stark of Concord, in the State of New Hampshire; that in June he marched to Bunker Hill and during the siege commanded by General Sullivan; that on the 17th day of June, was in the battle of Bunker Hill; that after the battle he returned to Winter Hill about one mile distant from the British ground; that he remained at Winter Hill until September following; that in the latter part of September he enlisted into the Company of Capt. Dyer, in the State of New Hampshire in the Regiment commanded by Col. Benedict Arnold,

for the purpose of going to Quebec; that he marched to Newbury Port and remained there about a week; that he then embarked on board a Vessel and sailed to Fort Western; that he there landed and remained while the Batteries were built to ascend the Kennebec River with the baggage; that he remained at that place as he believes about two weeks; that they then ascended the said River as far as the head waters of the same or to a place called as he believes Sedgwick Lake; At this place they left the Batteries and had but two days journey for man; From thence they proceeded through the woods in the way of the Kennebec River and arrived opposite the City of Quebec in the Month of October; that he remained at that place about three weeks, then crossed the River and landed at Wolfe's Cove; went on the Plains of Abraham and remained there until the Army under the Command of General Montgomery arrived, and was in the Siege of the City; he was in that Division which made the Attack upon and through the lower town; while in the lower town of the City was taken Prisoner by the British and was detained in prison until September in the year 1776, at which time he was permitted to return home upon parole.
17
Return home by way of Halifax and landed at Elizabeth Town in the State of New Jersey in the Month of October of the same year, and was discharged.
In the Month of July 1777, as he believes he Volunteered in what was called the "Massachusetts Troops" in Captain Allen's Company in General Callender's Brigade and went to Trenton in the State of Rhode Island, and remained there three Months and was then regularly discharged; This was what was called the "Rhode Island Expedition"; Again in July or August 1778 he Enlisted or Volunteered and which he does not now remember under Capt John Ames in the Regiment as he believes of Col. Allen and General Putnam's Division, and went to Providence in the State of Rhode Island and remained there and near that place three Months, was then discharged and again returned home.
In the Month of April 1778 he was hired in for eight Months "a Class" (thus so called) in South Berrienfield, and served in a Compa- ny of Continental Troops under the command of Captain Putnam Macewen & Lathrop, in Genl Parsons Brigade, and marched to Pits- kill in the State of New York, and performed the eight months service.

was again discharged and again returned home; that he never had and neither discharge; That at about the close of the war he removed to South Brimfield in the County of Hampshire and State of Massachusetts where he remained about two years; from that place removed to a house farm in the State of Connecticut, where he resided about seven years and then removed again to South Brimfield aforesaid, where he remained until the year 1809, and then removed to Woodstock in the State of Vermont, where he remained until the year 1818, when he removed to the town of Alton, County of Seneca and State of New York where he lived until April 1828 when he was removed to the Seneca County Poorhouse in the town of Bathany where he now lives at the expense and charge of the said County, having of his own no means of support. That he has no record of his age but states the same from recollection. That he hereby Relinquishes any claim whatever to any pension or annuity and or by virtue of any former Law of Congress, excepting that under which he now applies for a Pension, and at the same time declares that his name is not on the Pension List Roll of the Agency of any State: That he has no further evidence in his power to produce, of his services in the Revolutionary War, more than that above stated.
Sworn and Subscribed the day and year you aforesaid before me Caleb Edson Isaac Wilson first judge as aforesaid
We Robert Earle junior one of the judges of the Court of Common Pleas Presiding in the town of Alton in said County and William Pingree residing in the town of Bathany in said County do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Caleb Edson who has Subscribed and sworn to the above Declaration that we believe him to be 77 years of age as he states that he is generally respected and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a Soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion Sworn and Subscribed before Robert Earle Jr we the undersigned this 20th William Pingree of October 1832 before me Isaac Wilson first judge of Seneca County

I Isaac Wilson first found as aforesaid do hereby declare my opinion that after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the man named Applegate was a Revolutionary soldier and served in the Continental Army. Further I certify that it appears to me that Robert Eustis Jr. who has signed the preceding certification is a Judge of Court of Sessions of this county, and that William Pingree who has also signed the same is a Judge of the Poor House of this county, and that they are credible persons and that their statements are entitled to credit. And I further certify that the said Applegate cannot from bodily infirmity attend the court.
Isaac Wilson.
State of New York
Genesee County Bp. I Timothy Fitch Clerk of said county certify, that Isaac Wilson before whom the foregoing affidavits and proceedings purport to have been taken and made was on the day the same bear date First Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said county, and that I am well acquainted with the signature of said Judge subscribed to said affidavit and proceedings and verily believe the same to be genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my name and seal of Office this fifth day of December A.D. 1832.
Timothy Fitch Clerk By G. Pringle Dep. Clerk
Exhibit A of Isaac Wilson
Admiral John Dyer
Isaac Wilson

I have been for a short time in New York and have not yet returned. I have been thinking of the matter and after putting the things in order, I have the honor to inform you that the above is a true and correct statement of the facts. I have been thinking of the matter and after putting the things in order, I have the honor to inform you that the above is a true and correct statement of the facts.
That of New York 3d. J. Smith, Esq., of the County of New York, do hereby certify, that James Wilson before whom the foregoing affidavits and proceedings were sworn to have been taken and made on the day the same were made and that the said James Wilson is a Judge of the Court of Sessions in and for the said County, and that he is well qualified with the qualifications of said Judge subscribed to said affidavit and proceedings and truly believes the same to be true.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my name and seal of office this fifth day of December A.D. 1832.
James Wilson Judge of Sessions New York
Application of Walter Colton to the Hon. James Wilson Judge of Sessions New York

20.477 Rolls Caleb Edson Cont.
Landlord Fife 2 years -
Hon P. I. Tracy

BRIEF in the case of Caleb Edson Town of Bethany in the State of N. York (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? a Judge  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? it does so appear  3. How old is he? 77 years  4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days.     about a week after the battle of Lexington 1775 Discharged in September following Fifer Gen. Capt. Aaron Rinsman } N. Hampshire Col. Stark }   Septm 1775 about 12 Capt. Dearborn Col. Benedict Arnold }   July 1777 3 Capt. Allen Gen. Cattles Brigade } Mass. Troops   July or Aug 1778 3 Capt. Im. Ames } Col. Allen }   April 1779 8 Capt. Gathright G. W. Parsons Brigade } Continental Troops  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? Bunker Hill & Quebec  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Town of Portsmouth N. Hampshire  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditional evidence alone  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? They are properly authenticated 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
W. Gordon Examining Clerk.

29.775 Rey  INVALID.
File No. 29,775
Caleb Eason
St. John Rev. Dan
Act: June 7 th 89 th
Index:—Vol. 9 , Page 190
[Arrangement of 1870.]

B R I E F objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Caleb Edson which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? Yes II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? Yes III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? Yes V. * Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled? Yes VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? Yes VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? Yes VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? The Judge has IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? Yes X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? Yes

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? Yes XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? None XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? Yes XIV. † If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service? If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service? XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? Yes XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
* QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words: "Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades; For _____ year _____ months, and _____ days, I served as a _____ For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension."

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours; the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must in every case be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
QUERE XIV.  Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
QUERE XVI.  Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, has no public seal of office, the certificate of a member of congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.

War Department,
8230 Pension Office
December 21 st 1833
Sir,
In conformity with the regulations of this department you have this day been transferred from the Roll of N.Y. to that of Massachusetts - to take Effect from and after the 4 th March 1833.
I am, Sir, respectfully
Your Obedt Servant
J. I. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions.
Mr. Caleb Edson
W. I. Pendergast
Care of Mr Geo t Callan
Springfield
Mass
Boston Ap d 21 st 1834
Mr. Edwards
Sir - Herewith you a copy of a letter transferring Mr. Caleb Edson from New York to Massachusetts. I have examined the Rolls and cannot find the transfer made. I wish you would attend to it as soon as conveniently for the Old Man is in much want of his money -
In haste yours Truly J. I. Edwards

J. A. RECEIVED J. Edwards Esq. Commission of Pensions Washington D. C.

Springfield Oct. 19. 1853 -
L. E. Edmons Esq. Comm. of Pensions
Sir
I have enclosed Capt Edmons application for a transfer which he wishes to have take effect from and after the 4th. of March last -
With much respect your friend George Cotton

APPLICATION FOR A TRANSFER.
County of Hampden
ss.
On this Sixth
day of October
1833,
before me, the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace for the said County of
Hampden
personally appeared Caleb Edson
who, on his oath, declares that he is the same person who formerly belonged to the company commanded by Captain Henry Dearborn & others in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Benedict Arnold in the service of the United States; that his name was placed on the pension roll of the State of New York from whence he has lately removed; that he now resides in the State ( or Territory ) of Massachusetts where he intends to remain, and wishes his pension to be there payable, in future. The following are his reasons for removing from Attica in the State of New York to Wales Massachusetts - that when I received the pension certificate I was in the poor house in the county of Genesee N.Y. that in consequence of the loss of Friends at the last mentioned place I removed to Massachusetts which was my native State and in the Town of Wales where I have friends living -
Sworn and subscribed to, before me, } the day and year aforesaid. }
John Smith Justice of the Peace  Caleb Edson
The oath to be taken before a duly qualified Magistrates, whose official character and signature must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office. The county Clerk, Secretary of State, or some other officer, must certify, under his seal of office, that the officer who administered the oath is a Justice of the Peace, Judge, Mayor, Alderman, or Notary Public, as the case may be, and that the signature purporting to be his is genuine.
The oath must be supported by the testimony of some respectable person, as to the Pensioner's identity. He must swear that the person who has taken the above oath is the person described in the affidavit. The Magistrate must certify, that the witness is a person of veracity; and the affidavit must also be authenticated in the manner above directed.

I James Walker of lawful age testify and say that Caleb Edson mentioned in the foregoing appli- -cation is the identical Caleb Edson named in a pension certificate now in his possession, and that the said Edson is the person described in this affidavit who has taken the foregoing oath.
James Walker
State of Massachusetts,
Hampden ss.
Wales Sept. 6th 1833 Then personally ap- -peared James Walker who subscribed the above affa- -davit and made oath to the truth of the same Before me John Smith Justice of the Peace
I hereby certify that James Walker subscriber to the above affidavit sustains a good moral character and that his testimony is entitled to full credit
John Smith Justice Peace
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Hampden ss. I John Ingersoll a Clerk of the Common Pleas Court being a Court of Record in the County of Hampden do hereby certify that John Smith Esq. before whom the above affidavits were verified is a justice of the Peace for the County of Hampden and that his name thereunto subscribed I believe to be his true & proper signature. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Common Pleas Court on this sixteenth day of October in the year of our Lord One thousand Eight Hundred thirty three
John Ingersoll Clerk